The Big Gigs: 10 top concerts to see in the Twin Cities this week

Coming to town without his band Wilco for the first time since 2018, the Chicago indie-rock hero is touring behind his sprawling, new triple-LP solo collection, “Twilight Override.” It’s more minimalist and folky than his usual stuff but also very playful and poetic, as evidenced by the standout track “Lou Reed Was My Babysitter.” That fun spirit should carry over to the live shows with both his sons in the band, Sam and Spencer (the latter coming off tour with Waxahatchee), as well his longtime cohort James Elkington of Eleventh Dream Day. They’re playing long sets but no Wilco tunes with another Chicagoan for the opener, Sima Cunningham of Finom. (7:30 p.m. First Avenue, 701 1^st Av. N., Mpls., resale tickets only, first-avenue.com)

After playing amphitheaters and arenas last year, the Jersey-bred pop star is celebrating the 10^th anniversary of her debut album, “Badlands,” by doing a dozen relatively intimate U.S. shows. Not only is she playing “Colors, “New Americana” and every track from “Badlands” but she’s doing a generous 30 songs including “Closer,” her Chainsmokers collab, as well as tunes from last year’s “The Great Impersonator.” With most of the U.S. shows in theater-sized venues, the Minneapolis gig at the Armory is one of the biggest on this leg of her Back to Badlands Tour. (8 p.m. Armory, 500 S. 6th St., Mpls., $60 and up, ticketmaster.com)

The influential 1980s neotraditional country star has undertaken a most unusual tour. After suffering a debilitating stroke in 2013, Travis is traveling with his heyday band and guest singer James Dupre, a 2015 contestant on “The Voice,” covering the star’s hits including “On the Other Hand” and “Forever and Ever, Amen.” His wife, Mary, is along for the More Life Tour to tell stories because Travis has limited use of his voice. With the help of AI, he released a new single last year, “Where That Came From.” (7:30 p.m. Thu. Mayo Civic Center, Rochester, and 7:30 p.m. Fri. Paramount Center for the Arts, St. Cloud, $55 and up)

Also: Happy, good-vibes bluesman Keb Mo, who this year released his second duo album with Taj Mahal, settles in for a two-night stand (7 p.m. Thu. & Fri. the Dakota, sold out); like Bob Dylan and Paul McCartney, bluegrass Hall of Famer Del McCoury is still touring in his 80s (7:30 p.m. Parkway Theater, $59 and up); earthy Twin Cities troubadour David Huckfelt’s biweekly Mystery Lights sessions continue at the new Animales BBQ location (8 p.m., free); Wisconsin songwriter/guitarist Willy Porter is celebrating his new album, “Humans in the Room” (8 p.m. Icehouse, $27); guess it’s not too early to start performing holidays songs if you’re Straight No Chaser, the a cappella group celebrating its 25th anniversary (7:30 Pantages Theatre, $55 and up).

Eight years since these seemingly disparate musical forces first performed together, the Twin Cities hip-hop mainstay and the biggest band in town just can’t seem to quit each other. They’re meeting up again for two more performances that will revisit some of their past collaborations, including those caught on their groundbreaking and at times breathtaking 2019 album “Sound the Bells: Recorded Live at Orchestra Hall.” They also have some new music in the works for these shows. Dessa recently dropped a timely, dystopian new single, “Camelot,” and has been as hyperactive as ever on other fronts. (8 p.m. Fri. & Sat., Orchestra Hall, 1111 Nicollet Mall, Mpls., $61-$120, minnesotaorchestra.org)

Also: Detroit area soul stirrers Marvin Sapp and Fred Hammond are pairing up for the Kings of Gospel concert with an opening set by local spiritualizer Jovanta Patton, who just scored another No. 1 gospel single, “Your Name” (8 p.m. Orpheum Theatre, $60 and up); Iceland’s indie-folk favorites Of Monsters & Men return behind last month’s wordy release “All Is Love and Pain in the Mouse Parade” with the succinct single “Ordinary Creature” (8 p.m. Fri. & Sat. Palace Theatre); Jen Maren, the star of History Theatre’s hugely popular “Glensheen” musical, shows she can deliver a torch song in a nightclub when she tackles a show with tunes named after someone (6:30 p.m. Crooners, $25); Twin Cities rock hero Tina Schlieske of Tina & the B-Sides celebrates the 20th anniversary vinyl reissue of her star-studded solo album “Slow Burn” with a cast of local all-stars and opener Laamar (7 p.m. Icehouse, $30-$40).

Since opening Trampled by Turtles’ annual Bayfront gig in Duluth riding a modest buzz, this Kentuckian Americana singer/songwriter has garnered major attention via other opening dates with Tyler Childers, festival appearances like Newport (where she covered the Butthole Surfers!) and rave reviews for her third album, “Planting by the Signs.” New songs like “Snapping Turtle” and “I’m in Love” echo Lucinda Williams and Marianne Faithfull via an Appalachian filter and lyrics you’ll be chewing on for days. She returns to Minnesota with another hotly hyped act, North Carolina roots rockers Fust. (8:30 p.m. Fine Line, 318 1st Av. N., Mpls., $33, axs.com)

Before classical music’s most celebrated bassist became a MacArthur “genius” and a seven-time Grammy winner known for fusing folk and classical with cellist Yo-Yo Ma, fiddler Mark O’Connor, banjo man Béla Fleck and mandolinist Chris Thile, he was cutting his teeth as a composer by creating trios for violin, cello and bass. He’s recently decided to revive them and return to the form with some new pieces. He’ll perform three of them in the company of violinist Tessa Lark and cellist Joshua Roman, and throw on a J.S. Bach solo sonata. (4 p.m. Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 4100 Lyndale Av. S., Mpls., free, bethlehemmusicseries.org)

After making his 2023 Blue Note Records debut with “Where Are We” emphasizing vocals, the veteran jazz saxophonist has delivered an exquisite album of original acoustic jazz, “Words Fall Short.” He is joined by a new lineup of younger players: Bassist Philip Norris (Emmett Cohen, Wynton Marsalis), drummer Nazir Ebo (Christian McBride, Marsalis) and pianist Paul Cornish (who studied with Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter and this year dropped his debut “You’re Exaggerating”). The material, all composed by Redman, ranges from the wistful “A Message to Unsend” to the uplifting “Icarus.” Vocalist Gabrielle Cavassa, who was featured on Redman’s previous record, interprets Redman’s lyrics on the melancholy closer, “Era’s End.” (5:30 & 8 p.m. the Dakota, 1010 Nicollet Mall, Mpls., $41.95 and up, dakotacooks.com)

Also: Shaun Cassidy, a 1970s teen heartthrob known for his hit remake of “Da Do Ron Ron” who has become a successful TV producer behind “American Gothic” and “New Amsterdam,” is back in concert (8 p.m. Ames Center, $60 and up); guitar innovator Charlie Hunter, who has worked with D’Angelo, John Mayer, Norah Jones and Kurt Elling, brings his trio (8 p.m. Icehouse, $30-$40); British blueswoman Joanne Shaw Taylor, who was discovered by Eurythmics’ Dave Stewart, is supporting her 10th album, “Black & Gold” on Joe Bonamassa’s label (7:30 Parkway Theater, $45 and up); new alt-twang/roots unit the Smokin’ Section features local scene fixtures Kai Brewster, Michael Gay and Taylor James Donskey (3 p.m., Animales BBQ, free); Edie Rae and Craig Teiken will perform an in-store set to promote “A Musicians Menu,” a new book featuring recipes and food stories from Twin Cities musicians (4 p.m. Lucky Cat Records, free).

If you’re looking for a young band to restore your faith in noisy, grimy rock ‘n’ roll, try this foursome of childhood friends from Austin, Texas, who were inspired to start their band after watching the Mötley Crüe biopic “The Dirt.” They just released their debut record on Jack White’s Third Man Records, “Something to Consume,” produced by Turnstile collaborator Will Yip with heavy echoes of Nirvana’s “Bleach” and other early grunge-era recordings. They opened for Viagra Boys their last time in town, after which this headlining gig got bumped up thrice in size from the 7^th St. Entry. (8 p.m. Fine Line, 318 1^st Av. N., Mpls., $27, axs.com)

After throwing down with Throwing Muses and the Breeders during the early stages of the ’90s alt-rock boom, Rhode Island/Boston guitarist Tanya Donnelly crossed over to FM radio and MTV stardom with her new band Belly’s ultra-catchy 1993 hits “Feed the Tree” and “Gepetto.” The group’s 1995 follow-up LP, “King,” was just as strong as its first, and Donnelly is back to prove it on a tour celebrating the record’s 30th anniversary with bandmates Tom and Chris Gorman and Gail Greenwood, the latter last seen in town playing bass with Gang of Four. They added a second night due to demand. (7:30 p.m. Tue. & Wed., Parkway Theater, 4814 Chicago Av. S., Mpls., resale only, theparkwaytheater.com)